Young Mustangs enjoy riding new bikes after surprise donation

October 29, 2025

Maxey Elementary School kindergarteners began striding into successful bike riding futures this fall when they hopped on two wheels for the first time.
 
Two dozen Mustangs experienced the thrill of gliding around their gym during a special presentation of 24 balance-to-pedal Strider bikes. Lincoln Public Schools partnered with TAB Performance and the All Kids Bike organization to unveil the new vehicles to happy students. Kindergarteners will use training and curriculum from the All Kids Bike program to ride the bikes in their physical education classes.
 
TAB Performance co-owner Justin Pflantz said it was exciting to watch the Mustangs move on the Striders for the first time. They spent several minutes smiling and laughing as they circled one half of the gym on the bikes.
 
“It was pretty awesome,” Pflantz said. “It’s definitely the reason why we do it. Seeing their faces and then getting a chance to see them scoot around, and how excited they are.”

 
Devin Kosmicki leads physical education classes for students in grades K-5 at Maxey. He said it is important to teach kindergarteners how to ride a bike. He said the activity would lead to many happy memories for them for decades to come.
 
“It’s basically considered a lifetime skill, like walking or swimming,” Kosmicki said. “If you catch them early, this is something they’ll carry on to middle school, maybe high school, even later on if they’re going out there on the trails in Lincoln.”
 
Pflantz said the company wanted to provide resources to help more LPS students become familiar with bicycles. He felt the All Kids Bike program would be a good partner to make that happen. All Kids Bike is a national organization that promotes bicycling skills to more than 160,000 kindergarteners in all 50 states each year. More than 1,700 schools are currently using the All Kids Bike curriculum in their physical education classes.
 
“When we got connected with All Kids Bike, we learned some statistics like some kids never learn how to ride a bike, which is unfortunate,” Pflantz said. “This is a great organization to pair with.”
 
All kindergarten teachers brought their classes into the gym for the surprise announcement. A rack containing the bikes and helmets was covered by a colorful parachute, which kept the young Mustangs from realizing what the event was about at first. They clapped and cheered after Pflantz, Kosmicki and Maxey Principal Holly David told them the good news.
 
“Once the bikes were shown, that’s when you could just look into their eyes, and their eyes just lit up,” Kosmicki said. “They had no idea.”

TAB Performance chose to donate 24 bikes because that number will allow everyone in a physical education class to practice individually. Each Strider bike can be adjusted to give students comfortable and safe rides.
 
Kosmicki will first teach them how to put on their helmet, use the kickstand and safely get on and off the bike. They will then work on their balancing skills by striding around the gym while sitting down. Pedals for the bikes can later be attached once they master those initial steps.
 
Some kindergarteners at the celebration had been on bicycles before, but other Mustangs were trying the activity for the first time. Pflantz said it was encouraging to watch them make real-time improvements as they wheeled around the gym.
 
“You see the kids that this is maybe a newer experience for them,” Pflantz said. “They’re a little bit more timid, a bit shy, but as they make a few laps, their confidence grows and you can kind of see that smile and that they’re really enjoying it.”

 
The bikes also gave the Mustangs a chance to showcase their listening skills. As soon as the class period began to wind down, David called out to the riders and asked them to slow down. Everyone who was on a bike immediately came to a halt and looked at her for directions.
 
“You stopped right away,” David said. “Great work!”
 
Pflantz said TAB Performance is planning to donate additional Strider bikes to other LPS buildings in future years. He said it was rewarding to know that the number of young bike riders in Lincoln would grow because of their new physical education experiences.
 
“It’s a good way to start as opposed to training wheels,” Pflantz said. “You learn the balance. A lot of times you can transition quicker to a full bike by learning that way. It’s a great program and great bikes, a great way to learn.”
 
Bicycle riding is one of the many lifetime skills that LPS students learn in their physical education classes. Visit home.lps.org/pe to view details about our  physical education programs at elementary, middle and high school levels.
 
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